Kieran Maguire: Man City to bypass the law as controversial new deal announced
Man City and new betting partner 8XBET are attempting to bypass Asian anti-gambling laws to reach new customers.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about City’s latest controversial commercial deal.
The reigning Premier League champions announced on Tuesday (5 July) that they had struck a deal for 8XBET to be their official Asian gambling sponsor.
Critics suggest that the company has a white-label website, essentially meaning that it is a ploy to reach customers in markets where gambling is prohibited.
On the day the deal was announced, The Athletic’s investigations writer Joey D’Urso tweeted: “Man City’s statement says this website ‘is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission’ which is categorically false.”
Maguire too subscribes to the view that 8XBET are using the deal as a “workaround” to reach otherwise inaccessible consumers in Asia.
“This looks like an organisation which is targeting non-UK-based gambling consumers,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“City raises the profile of the brand. From the perspective of both parties, it’s beneficial.
“City have had huge success in the Premier League and in Europe in recent years, and that guarantees you exposure.
“Also, if you have a 3pm kick-off in the UK, that equates to 10 or 11pm in Asia, which is peak gambling time for people in casinos.
“Even though there are many markets in Asia where gambling is restricted, there are workarounds to that.”
In other news, Man City told to pull Nathan Ake U-turn after “surprising” source reveal.